The more her friends asked her where she was going to play college basketball recently the more difficult it was for De'Janae Boykin to keep her decision a secret. The truth was that she knew exactly where she will be headed.

Boykin, a 6-foot-3 forward from Springdale, Md., had verbally committed to UConn during her official visit April 20 as she ate breakfast at the home of Huskies' coach Geno Auriemma. But rather than make her decision public, she opted to wait until Sunday -- her 17th birthday -- to officially reveal her intentions.

"I never really thought, me personally, that I would get recruited by them because they were such a high major school," Boykin said. "But it feels great. I thought it was the best place for me to push me and challenge me and, of course, win championships. I just felt like it was a great decision for me."

Boykin joins Napheesa Collier, a 6-1 forward from St. Louis, as the first two members of the class of 2015 to commit to UConn. Both are ranked in the Top 10 in their class, with Boykin ranked No. 10 by HoopGurlz and No. 8 by Full Court.

North Carolina, Penn State, Tennessee and Virginia were also on Boykin's final list. She took an official visit to Penn State last month, too.

"It was actually the coaches' personalities and meeting the players," Boykin said of what played a big role in her decision. "It wasn't really the visit. I felt like before then I actually felt like it was probably the place for me ... their playing style and everything. So that's why."

Boykin had previously visited UConn unofficially, attending the game against Louisville at Gampel Pavilion on Feb. 9. She was joined last month by Collier, Duke-committed Haley Gorecki and fellow UConn class of 2015 target Katie Lou Samuelson, a 6-3 wing from Huntington Beach, Calif.

Boykin, who was named the Maryland Gatorade Player of the Year this season, averaged 21.1 points, 15.8 rebounds, 7.1 assists, 3.0 blocks and 3.2 steals to lead C.H. Flowers High to a 17-2 record and an appearance in the Class 4A South Region semifinals. She had 17 double-doubles and four games with at least 20 points and 20 rebounds.

Boykin will be competing at the U-17 World Championship Team Trials in Colorado Springs, Colo., May 22-26.

"I do remember when she was 12-years-old and I saw (UConn assistant coach) Marissa (Moseley) sitting in the stands for the first time," said Jeff Boykin, De'Janae's father. "And I was like, `Who are they looking at?' Not knowing it was my kid at a younger age.

"So they've wanted her for a long time. I'm happy for her to have an opportunity to play for a program like UConn."